Metallic rolling shutter



May 1924. y l :1,493,161

J. C2 RPER METALLIC aoLLNG SHUTTER Filed Nov. 2s. 1921 -2 sheets-sheet 1 A T TOR/Vf K May e, 1924. 1,493,161

J. C. RAPER METALLIC ROLLING SHUTTER Filed Nov. 28. 1921 2 Sheets-Shen 2 Patented May 6, i924.

STATES JOSEPH C. RAPER, OF COVINGTON, KENTUCKY.

METALLIC ROLLING SHKUTTER.

Application ineal NmnmueiA 28,' 15521. seria'inemsals.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, Josnrn C. RAPER, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Covington, in the county of Kenton and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metallic Rolling Shutters, of which the following is a specication. Y

This invention relates vto rolling metallic fire doors or slatted shutters that are adapted to be suspended from automaticallywound rollers or shafts in door-ways to exclude wind, rain, fire and other passage therethrough when required, and, more particularly, to serve as protector or barrier screens in preventing fire communication through said door-ways, whether the latter are located in outside or in interior walls, and the principal object of the, invention is to provide an automatic-release device thatinchicles therein a suitable set of detent-andrelease levers which serve to normally sustain the fleXibly-slatted shutter in its wound or rolled-up, coiled condition and that become `instantly liberated or disengaged on the sudden dropping of a weight caused by the melting of one or more fuses that are interposed in' the lever drop-weight and sustaining means for emergency use in the event of a dangerous Afire whose undue or excess heat raises the internal temperature of the premises beyond the safety stage and whereby the unrolling or unwinding of the curtain or slatted fire-door becomes automatically, rapidly and instantly effective so that it drops into vertical closing and shield-` ing position in the door-way or' any other opening that is to be protected against said dangerous 4fire nand Lany resultant damage that might be occasioned thereby.

Still another object of the invention is to provide al flame-stop with a fuse-system whereby such flame-stop can be normally held out of acting-engagement until auto-` showing it in connectionwith the opposing end-walls of its inclosing hood or casing,

but omitting the shell vor body-portiony of the said hood or casing, and including the vertical side-guides or runways for the yopposite ends of the flexibly-connected series ofv slatted-memloers of the fire-door to-v gether with ,the weight-member that is used in throwing the release-lever o-f the automatic roller-releasemechanism; Fig. 3, an end elevation of the ro-ller-release chamber of the said shutter roller-hood, including the weight-member and the trip-lever members of said automatic release, all in their normalA positions ready for excessive heat or fire disturbing action, and the flange edge of theclosure-door being shown in cross-section so as to include said weight-4 member, and-the end-bracket of the hood being shown broken away; Fig. 4, an `inner y elevation o-f the doorvor cover for the inclosing-chamber .of the automatic releaselever at the forel-end (to the left) of the said curtain-inclosing hood or casing, said door ybeing shown swung back for access to the said release-mechanism; Fig. 5, a verticalv cross-section,` taken on the mixed or irregular dotted-line 5, 5, of Fig. 1, showing the fire-shutter in droppedv or closed positionV but'with the flame-stop and fuse devices intact andv ready for the excessive heat of a dangerous lire to transpose them into active position and engagement for diverting the Haines from the premises on the otherl side of said-fire-shutter that is remote from the fire; Fig. 6an end elevation of a fragmentary loweripart of the fire-door herein; Fig. 7, a ragmentary front elevation of the left lower corner of the shutter taken byV itself; Fig. 8, a crosssection of one of av desired or approved form of slats; andFig. 9, a yfragmentary diagraphic-outline, taken transversely of of the upper part of the said shutter hood or casing and showing, in connection therewith, the llame-stop pivotal structure asit appears in lowered or released fire-anddra-ft closureaction.

The device taken asa unit or whole structure is made up of a flexible metallic shutter or curtain A; vertical guide vor run ways B, B, in which the vertical side-edges of the shutter travel and freely engage in use; a self-winding, spring-controlled roller-mechanism C; a roller inclosing hoodv or` casing D; and a flame and draft stop orclosure E, the latter located within the said hood.

The shutter or curtain A, in detail, is composed of parallel, horizontal, sheetmetal slats 9, each of which has a corresponding, plain, open hook-formation 10 and 11 along its respective upper and lower edges and a longitudinally-central rib-formation 12, the latter being at slightly acuteangles to the surface or plane of the slat and the said hook-formations being disposed in opposite directions for the proper interlinking of all the slats in a flexiblyconnected vertical series, as best shown in Fig. 5. The said rib-formed slats impart to each, along its central line, an improvised or modified Z-shaped structure that assures the required lightness, stiffness and strength. This form of slat is extremely simple, easily made and assembled, has the desired flexibility and is very economical and effectual in every material way, especially for fire protection and in shedding water. kThe several slats are coupled or linked by sliding them together lengthwise, the contiguous hook-formations 10 and 11 duly interlocking and, therefore, not ordinarily or accidentally separable from eachother in use. (This special form of slat forms the subject-matter of an independent application fo-r patent and is not claimed herein.) l

13 and 14 indicate the opposite end-walls of the hood or casing D, and 15 is the backwall of the said hood, screw or expansive bolts 16 being used in said back-wall to secure the roller-supporting parts to the lintel F of the door-way or opening Gr, and the said end-walls 13 and 14 forming bracketmembers for `the mounting of the hollow roller or shaft 17 on which the protecting shutter or curtain herein is wound. On the inner face of the end-wall 13 is mounted a short stub-axle 18 that supports the tail end of the said hollow roller-shaft 17, and on the latter is mounted a pair (or more, to suit the width of curtain and its door-way) of duly spaced spoked-wheels 19 and 20, a set-screw 21 being used on the hub 22 of each wheel 19 and 2O for duly adjusting its proper-fastening in place to aline with the offsets or inclined notches 23 made in the wheel faces for the reception of the top slat of the curtain and the application further of the bolts 24 that securely fasten the slatted curtain thereto ready for rolling or winding suspension and use in said door-way or opening Gr. The curtain is properly leveled and suspended with proper clearance along its side-edges in the guide or run ways before the set-screws 21 in the wheel-hubs 22 are finally turned home, and with said inclined notches 23 in correct alinement. A spindle 25 extends outwardly from the left foreend of the hollow roller-shaft 17 into and through the chambered, inwardly-bulging portion 26 of the end-wall or bracket-member 14 of the hood, and a transverse removable charging-pin 27 is inserted through the diametrically-alined apertures 28, 28, that are provided in the said hollow roller-shaft 17 and, also, simultaneously passed through a hole pierced diametrically in the said spindle 25, for coupling the spindle with the hollow roller-shaft when it is desired to charge said roller-shaft by winding the internal spiral spring 29 (common to spring-controlled rollers) thereon and by means of the dropping of the curtain. The outer end of spring` 29 has a bolted-connection 30 with the inner forked end of the spindle 25 and is looped at its inner end to a transverse bolt 31 that is provided near the tail end of the said hollow roller-shaft 17. Said charging-pin 27 is withdrawn by means of its angular head when the curtain is fully connected with the roller 17 and under the required unwinding tension of the spring 29, n

and in rolled up as well as suspended in position for its intended closing action and use, and again hereinafter referred to in the describing the setting of the spring-controlled holding and release devices that are best shown in Fig. 2.

The spindle 25 has an integral shoulder or collar-formation 32 and a contiguous pair of compression-washers 33 (of metal and fiber) thereon, located between the flanged tubular bearing-plug 34 in the said fore-end of the hollow roller 17 and the protuberant bearing-box or boss portion 35 of the aforesaid chambered inwardly-bulging portion 26 of the fore-end bracket-member 14. A check-nut 35L is mounted on the threadedportion 36 near the outer end of the spindle 25 and it has a pair of diametrically-alined, open or forked wings 37 for the ready engagement of screw-bolts 38 that are used to hold the check-nut 35a in either set or unset position against turning, a half, or at most a whole revolution of the said check-nut being all, at any time in actual use, being necessary, and more specifically referred to hereinafter. A charging-disk 39 is attached to the plain extreme outer endof the spindle 25 by means of a convenient set-screw 40, (Fig. 3) and a series of hand-lever socket-lugs 41 extends laterally from the peripheral outer side-face of the charging-disk for the purpose of rotating the spindle while the charging-pin 27 is in coupling-place in the operation of winding the internal coil or spring 29 when the door is lowered for the specific charging purpose.

Transverse notches 42 are provided in the peripheral face of the charging-disk 39, as best shown in Fig. 3, but also seen in Fig. 2, for the engagement of the lug or boss 43 on the upper edge of a horizontal, pivotal detent lever or pawl 44, the latter being normally held up by means ofa rock-lever 45 into stop-engagement with one of the notches 42 of the disk for the normally rolled or coiled condition of the curtain out of closure-use, but ready for instant` and rapid automatic unwound or dropped use in or main part Vof the Isaid rock-lever 45 eX tends rearwardly in the charging-chamber ofthe hood, toward the back-wall l5`thereof. It will be observed, by reference to Figs. 2

and 3, that the charging-disk 39, the pawl 44 and the rock-lever 45 are all located on the outer face of the fore end-wall or bracket-member 14 and that an inclosingchamber 48 is provided for said parts 39, 44 and 45, the parts 44 and 45 being both pivotally-mounted on said outery side of said end-wall 14 by means of bolts 44a and 45a,

respectively.

A door or cover 49, having an inward flange 49a, is provided on the outer face of the fore end-wall or bracket-member 14 for the release mechanism. vThis door or cover has perforated lugs 50, 50 that are given hinge-connection with the perforated lugs 5l, 51, on the said fore end-wall 14, by means of the-customary vertical rod or pin 52. A perforated lug 53 is provided on the foreedge of the-saiddoor 49 and adapted-to receive ka screw 54 for convenientlyr and securely fastening it in closed position. The inner face of the door 49 is further provided'with a vertical rib 55 that serves, in connection or association with the rear edge or flange 56 of the said door 49, to form a guide-way for the free and unincumbered, rapid descent or 'fall of a weight 57 that contacts with or smart-ly strikes the outer end of the rock-'lever 45 when the automatic release of the pawl 44 from la-tchingengagement with the disk 39 is to be effected and the consequent dropping' of the curtain into closing and protecting', suspended position in the door-way G. The said weight is suspended in the guide-way, formed by said rib and flange formations on-the inner face of the door 49, by means of a sash-chain 58 that passes upwardly through a hole 59 in the top of the hood, in the fo-re uppery corner of the latter, as best shown in Figs. l

and 3, and thence/through an eye 60 eX- tending from the lintel F, and thence, again, horizontally through another eye 6l on said lintel, and thence, still again, around the outer face of the hood, about the center thereof, up to a fusible link 62 near the lower rear-edge of the hood, the' said fusible link being, in turn, attached to a hook 63 that is secured L.to the 'hood'4 near said lower rearedge, and the latter being turned into a curl 64 that is suitably spaced from the guideways B, B, as best seen in Fig. 5.

A fusible link 65 is inserted in the sashchain 58, between the eye 60 and the hole 59. Both of thesaid fusible links 62 and 65 are instrumental in parting the chain when the temperature of the premises adj acent the shutter-hood rises to a danger-point on account of a fire advancingl in its early stage or in its incipiency therein. When the chain parts at either or both said fusible links the weight 57 instantly drops and its rapid momentum, as Well as its hef-t, in falling, on and striking the rearwardly-extending part of the rock-lever 45, causes the latter to descend and simultaneously sever contact of the teat or projection 46 with the notch 47 in the outer end of the lever or 85 pawl 44, whereby the automatic fall of the said outer, free end of said lever or pawl 44 immediately follows to effect the release of its lug 43 from engagement with the hitherto-engaged notch 42 in the edge of the charging-disk 39 and then allowing the unwinding of the spring 29 within the roller-shaft to effect the rapid closing-descent of the curtain byits own gravitation or weight within the door-way or opening G. The bottombar 9a of the curtain has an outwardly-extending flange 91 that serves as a hand-hold when it is desired to draw the curtain down manually for the ordinary closing of the door-way and in raising the same when required. This bottom-bar 9a also` adds the desired weight to that of the curtain to overy, come the tension of the counterbalancingl spring 29 in the winding and suspending roller when it is desired and imperatively necessary to release the coiled curtain by the said automatic means for sure and rapid lire and other desired protection.

In Fig. 2 i-t will be seen how the springcontrolled roller is arranged or prepared ahead ready for charging or winding the spring into tension-condition for the proper counterbalancing support of the curtain for general` use, both in opening and closing it in the door-way in as convenient and easy a manner as possible and still allow it to be automatically and rapidly dropped into closed position in the said door-way in the event of dangerous lire or other emergency use. Everything being ready for using the curtain, after said charging of the spring, the device is then set for the free working thereof by lirst turning the roller-shaft until the angled-head Vor lateral handle of the charging-pin or coupler 27 is disposed or 125 directed downwardly, or, in other words, is on the underside of the lroller-shaft 17 then the previously-free check-nut 35a is rotated forward on the spindle 25 until it tightens with the inner face of the inwardly-bulging portion 26 of the bracket-member 14, 'and the pair of contiguous compression-washers 33 further comefinto irm or close compression with the protuberant boss or bearing portion 35 of the bracket-member 14; then the screws 3S are inserted into place so as to hold the check-nut where set in said tightening-operation; then the said rollershaft is given one full turn, in the direction of the top-portion moving away from the wall or lintel, and finally the set-screws 21 of the shutter winding-wheels 19 and 20 are tightened so that said wheels and their inclined notches 23 shall be in proper alinement for the correct hanging of the |`curtain in its side guide-ways B, B, for free vertical movement without danger or chance of binding, especially for the said lire and other emergency uses.

Simultaneous with the dropping of the curtain into closing protector-position I provide a sheet-metal' flame-stop 66 that is held normally suspended within the throat at the top of the curtain and which drops automatically into the closing-position, as shown in dotted-lines in Fig. 5, when said curtain is dropped into emergency `closed-position by the severing of the sash-chain fuses on account of fire. The flame-stop 66 is. held in said normally suspended-position by means of a short auxiliary sash-chain 67 that extends from a curled edge 68 through an eyelet or grommet 68 in the top of the hood D and thence for attachment at 69, by means of an easy hook-and-eye coupling, to. the main-chain 58 on the outside of the hood. The pivotal part of the flame-stop is best shown in Fig. 9 (which is on a larger scale t'han that of Fig. 5, but of the same structure) and as the flame-stop, free hingejoint appears when the stop is in shielding or flame-diverting action. This flexibly-free hinge-joint is preferably composed of a pendent deflector-edge 71 and an inclined V- shape formation 72 along its other edge, a narrow space or gap 73 being allowed between them for the insertion and rocking of the acute-angled outwardly-turned upper edge 74C of the flame-stop 66, the latter being a curved one in cross-section, normally concentric with tlie curtain Winding-roller and not interfering with nor materially retarding the ceiling or wrapping of the slatted curtain on said roller, nor the unwinding thereof at any time. When the flame-stop is in lowered closure-position it diverts the lire or flame from passage or any draft-circulation around the winding-roller within the hood D, so that it cannot nd any egress to the other side of t'he curtain that is to be protected. This flame-stop devicey operates only when the chain is severed and fire emergency is present lto necessitate same, Y

it in ordinary or common use. j f

I claim l. ln an automatic release-mechanism for self-winding fire-resisting shutters, the combination with a suitably journaled hollow roller, of a check-nut mounted on one of the roller journal-spindles, a charging-disk mounted on the said j ournal-spindle and provided With a peripheral series of transverse notches, a gravitating pawl having an intermediate upright tooth adapted to normally and directly engage the respective notches of the said peripherally-notched charging-disk, a rock-lever mounted adjacent the said charging-disk and pawl, a gravitating weight adapted to drop into tripping-contact with the outwardly-extending arm of said rock-lever to simultaneously release the said gravitating pawl and charging-disk from coacting contact or locking-engagement, a trip-chain adapted to support the said weight above the said rock-lever and fusible links in said chain adapted to melt and thus sever uniting-connection with the remaining stable links in the chain when the surrounding temperature exceeds the safety stage, the whole being constructed, arranged and adapted to operate whereby an instantaneous automatic release is effected and the normally-wound curtain adapted to then instantly drop into closed protective-position, substantially as shown and described.

2. In combination, a fire-resisting rollercurtain having an upper encasing hood, an automatic pawl and rock-lever roller-release mounted within said hood, an actuating weight mounted onA a trip-c'hain and adapted to immediately actuate the said rock-lever when one or more fusible links that form part of said trip-chain become severed at the time when the adjacent temperature exceeds a safety limit, a longitudinal auxiliary flame-stop deflector having a rounded lower roll-edge and a horizontal-U- shape formation along its upper edge the latter being pit'fotally-mounted in a V-shape hanger-support within said hood, and auxiliary flexible means adapted to normally sustain the said deflector elevated and duly spaced away from the adjacent wound cur-` tain, such auxiliary iiexible means having attached-connection with said-trip-chain for synchronous action therewith and, also, for assuring the automatic protecting-closure of the passage-way around the said curtain when it is suspended into fully-closed position, substantially as shown and described.

JOSEPH C. RAPER. 

